Porto vs Manchester United | Europa League (03/10/2024, 21:00)
Porto vs Manchester United promises to be an exciting showdown in the UEFA Europa League, with both teams looking to bounce back after challenging starts to the competition. Despite taking an early lead inside ten minutes, playing against ten men for most of the second half Porto’s UEFA Europa League campaign got off to a disappointing start as they fell 3-2 to Bodø/Glimt on matchday one-despite leading early, playing against ten men for much of the second half, and amassing 29 shots. That was just their second defeat of the season, and they responded in style with an emphatic 4-0 win over Arouca in domestic action. Now they are eager to bounce back as the welcome Manchester United to the Estádio do Dragão.
Iconic Estádio do Dragão has been a fortress for Porto, a place where they have won their last three home European matches, one against Arsenal included. They haven’t pulled off four straight home wins in European competition since 2019, but with their current unbeaten home record across the past April to date for W6, D2, this may well be their chance at a new milestone.
Meanwhile, Manchester United were embroiled in the latest of their crises, the dispiriting defeat to Tottenham on Saturday. The statement from Erik ten Hag’s bosses – though predictable – can’t have brought a great deal of joy to the manager. Things then turned toxic at Old Trafford and that’s a situation he must improve quickly. Meanwhile, United’s form in Europe has been equally disturbing, with only one win in their last nine games. They even struggled to overcome Twente in matchday one, settling for a 1-1 draw. More so, their away form in UEFA competitions is particularly troubling – having scored three goals in each of their last three away games without winning any of them – D1, L2.
Players to Watch: For Porto, new striker Samu Omorodion has been on fire, scoring five goals in his last four games, with four of those coming after halftime. Manchester United’s Rasmus Højlund, who scored five goals in European competition last season, will be eager to find the net, though his strikes for United have all come in defeats.
Form Guide
Porto WLWWLW
Porto’s recent form is promising, including a 4-0 victory against Arouca, where Omorodion, Nico González, Galeno, and Deniz Gül all scored. Their attacking potency has been strong, with 11 goals in their last six matches.
Manchester United LWWDDL
While recent performances for United have been somewhat less inspiring, their last outing finished with a loss to Tottenham by three-nil. Erik ten Hag’s men struggled to impose themselves, with only 39% possession and just two shots on target against Spurs.
Porto vs Manchester United Predicted XI
Porto Predicted XI: Costa; Mario, Pedro, Perez, Moura; Gonzalez, Varela; Pepe, Sousa, Galeno; Omorodion
Manchester United Predicted XI: Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Dalot; Eriksen, Ugarte; Diallo, Fernandes, Rashford; Hojlund
Betting Opportunities and Odds
For those looking to take advantage of betting opportunities in this match, the odds are leaning in favor of Porto, as reflected by the GSB platform. Porto’s strong home record and recent form make them the bookmakers’ favorite. Here’s a breakdown of the key odds:
- Porto win (2.37): With Porto being heavily favored, a win for the home side is considered a likely outcome. Their dominance at the Estádio do Dragão, has led to strong backing from bettors.
- Manchester United win (2.82): United’s underdog status is evident in these odds. Despite being a club with a rich history, their recent struggles, both domestically and in Europe, have placed them as the less favored team. A win for United would yield a slightly higher payout, reflecting the risk involved.
These odds reflect the contrasting momentum of both teams, with Porto riding high on home advantage and form, while Manchester United are seen as needing a significant turnaround to claim victory.
Prediction
Given both teams’ recent performances, goals might be hard to come by in this encounter. A close, evenly matched contest could result in a 0-0 draw by the final whistle.
